5 Things To Know About Downton Abbey's New Season

A preview of season five's first episode—

Downton Abbey is set to return to our screens next month with its fifth season. We've already seen the first episode, so to whet your appetite, here's a preview of what to expect from Lady Mary, Carson, Isis the dog et al.

It's a brave new world Season five takes place in 1924, which means one historical event in particular is on the tip of everyone's tongues: the election of Ramsey Macdonald as prime minister of the first Labour government. For Downton's staunch conservatives (read: Lord Grantham and Carson) the development is greeted with much fear and anguish, yet downstairs, it's a rallying call to arms for unlikely socialists Jimmy, Thomas, Anna and Mrs. Hughes.

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Let's talk about sexApart from Mr Pamuk, season one's lascivious Turkish houseguest, Downton is usually rather prudish about relations between the sheets. But not so in season five. We've got Cousin Isabel referring to men only being after "one thing", Tom telling Lord Grantham that the lovely school teacher isn't his "lover", Lord Gillingham propositioning Lady Mary and angel-faced Jimmy cavorting with Lady Anstruther.

The passage of timeA few years have passed since season four closed, which means Downton's newest additions, George and Sybbie, are children now rather than babies. In fact, aging is a key theme of the episode. We have Lord Grantham lamenting that things are different to his grandfather's day, Molesley worrying about how old he looks and Cousin Violet planning for the future.

The misery of Lady Edith If episode one is anything go by poor Lady Edith looks set to continue in her misery this year. With her daughter Marigold living down the road, she's constantly reminded of her failings as a mother, not to mention the mysterious loss of her beau, Mr Gregson, last seen departing for Germany. It's an altogether calamitous episode for the middle sister, who unwittingly causes the premiere's climactic drama.

Cousin Violet's book of one-liners Maggie Smith's sharp-tongued Dowager Countess is on top form this series. Here are a two of her best quips from episode one:On friendship: "It's easy enough to avoid socialising with people you don't want to. It's avoiding your friends that is the problem."On dinner table etiquette: "Principles are like prayers. Noble of course but awkward at a party."

Coming up this season: The love triangle between Lady Mary, Lord Gillingham and Charles Blake looks set to escalate, Richard E. Grant is an outrageous art historian riling up the family and Isis continues to enjoy the longest life ever known to a dog.